PLANS to transfer Bewdley Museum from council ownership to an independent board of trustees have been described by the MP as a "dumb idea".
Concerns have been raised in the town over the future of the museum, Guildhall and Queen Elizabeth II Gardens as Wyre Forest District Council looks to start recruiting trustees to take over the running of these community assets as part of its Localism agenda.
In a letter seen by The Shuttle, Bewdley Civic Society said it was "extremely concerned" by the council's plans to transfer ownership of the museum without any public consultation.
When the plans were announced in October, it was suggested that the district council would provide grants to the new trust which would reduce each year, but the Civic Society says the potential to make up any shortfall in funding with museum income would be "very low", and said its main concern lies with the future viability of the trust.
The letter goes on to say: "The Civic Society strongly believes that the museum and gardens are an essential part of Bewdley which also help to draw in tourists, who contribute to the economy of the town.
"The loss or closure of these local attractions and our heritage artefacts would be disastrous."
A meeting was held on Wednesday night to discuss the potential to form a consortium of local organisations to voice the community's concerns.
Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier has also criticised the move, saying the town "doesn't have the money to run the museum" and would have to triple the council tax charged by the town council to raise it.
Mr Garnier described the proposals as a "dumb idea" and said: "This is the same as the proposal that was put forward over a decade ago that was rejected by the newly-elected administration on the district council.
"Of course, the museum could charge for use. Not necessarily charging an entry fee, it could charge for events out of hours – evening parties, weddings and whatever else comes to mind. But for the new museum trust to be secure, it would have to be profitable the whole time.
"If charging was introduced under the district council ownership, it could at least suffer a few years of loss making, underwritten by other income from the council.
As it happens, Bewdley has a perfect example of a community asset that makes money – St George’s Hall. But it can rent out the coffee shop, offices and the various meeting rooms. It was built as a commercial asset.
"Bewdley Museum gardens are not such an asset."
Wyre Forest District Council said its intention is to secure a viable future for the museum.
Councillor Helen Dyke, deputy leader and cabinet member for Localism, said: “The council’s intention to create an independent trust for the museum has been in the public domain since September 2019, when full council approved the corporate plan.
"It explicitly mentions 'establish Bewdley Museum as a self-standing charity'.
“The clear intention is to secure a viable future for the museum and not to have it fail.
"While the level of grant support has not been determined and would be discussed with the trustees when appointed, the district council is expecting to be the principal source of funding for the museum, and this will be a six figure sum each year. It is unfortunate that the Civic Society has misrepresented the position.
“While we are not planning for the trust to fail, Bewdley Town Council has asked that the formal documentation should include provision to give it the right of first refusal to have the buildings and collection vested in it in such circumstances and we are working to deliver that.
"The district council itself does not wish to have or be able to exercise such a right."
Cllr Dyke added: "Recruitment of trustees will get under way soon. It is the intention to find the best people with requisite skills and experience.
"This will not be a representational role but there is nothing to stop anyone putting themselves forward for consideration if they feel that they meet the specification.”
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